U.S. patent number 7,249,395 [Application Number 10/977,573] was granted by the patent office on 2007-07-31 for hand bracket.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Stromberg-Carlson Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles A. Brammer, Robert C. Brammer, Jr..
United States Patent |
7,249,395 |
Brammer, Jr. , et
al. |
July 31, 2007 |
Hand bracket
Abstract
A hand bracket comprising a grip section, a top connection
bracket at a first end of the grip section and a bottom connection
bracket a second end of the grip section. At least one of the top
connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket comprises a
shell having two screw holes and a rim, with screw cylinders
extending from the screw holes to a position planar with the rim.
The at least one of the top connection bracket and the bottom
connection bracket includes a first side and a second side, with
the two screw holes located closer to one of the first side or the
second side.
Inventors: |
Brammer, Jr.; Robert C.
(Traverse City, MI), Brammer; Charles A. (Traverse City,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Stromberg-Carlson Products,
Inc. (Traverse City, MI)
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Family
ID: |
38970024 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/977,573 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060085948 A1 |
Apr 27, 2006 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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29215840 |
Oct 26, 2004 |
D516406 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
16/412; 16/436;
16/DIG.41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
1/0015 (20130101); E05B 83/44 (20130101); E05B
85/10 (20130101); Y10S 16/41 (20130101); Y10T
16/498 (20150115); Y10T 16/458 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;16/412,413,436,443,444,DIG.40,DIG.41
;248/254,256-257,278.1,282.1,261 ;411/52,53 ;49/460,461
;312/348.6,401,405 ;403/381 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10311668 |
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Nov 1998 |
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JP |
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11117484 |
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Apr 1999 |
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JP |
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11117487 |
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Apr 1999 |
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JP |
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2001193248 |
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Jul 2001 |
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JP |
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2002095612 |
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Apr 2002 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Mah; Chuck Y.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt
& Litton, LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 29/215,840, which was filed on Oct. 26, 2004
now U.S Pat. No. D,516,406 and entitled HAND BRACKET.
Claims
We claim:
1. A hand bracket comprising: a grip section; a top connection
bracket at a first end of the grip section; and a bottom connection
bracket at a second end of the grip section; at least one of the
top connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket comprising
a shell having two screw holes and a rim, with screw cylinders
extending from the screw holes to a position planar with the rim;
wherein the at least one of the top connection bracket and the
bottom connection bracket includes a first side and a second side,
with the two screw holes located closer to one of the first side or
the second side.
2. The hand bracket of claim 1, wherein: the grip section includes
a rubber tube.
3. The hand bracket of claim 2, wherein: the rubber tube includes
finger grooves for accepting fingers of a user of the hand
bracket.
4. The hand bracket of claim 2, wherein: the rubber tube includes
gripping protrusions.
5. The hand bracket of claim 1, wherein: the at least one of the
top connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket comprises
both the top connection bracket and the bottom connection
bracket.
6. The hand bracket of claim 1, wherein: the grip section, the top
connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket are
integral.
7. The hand bracket of claim 6, wherein: the grip section includes
a rubber tube.
8. The hand bracket of claim 7, wherein: the rubber tube includes
finger grooves for accepting fingers of a user of the hand
bracket.
9. The hand bracket of claim 7, wherein: the rubber tube includes
gripping protrusions.
10. The hand bracket of claim 1, wherein: the grip section, the top
connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket are separate,
but operatively connected.
11. The hand bracket of claim 1, wherein: the grip section
comprises a C-shaped handle.
12. The hand bracket of claim 1, wherein: the grip section includes
an upper portion and a lower portion; the top connection bracket
includes an upper slot for accepting the upper portion of the grip
section; and the bottom connection bracket includes a lower slot
for accepting the lower portion of the grip section.
13. The hand bracket of claim 12, wherein: the top connection
bracket includes at least one top stowing groove; the bottom
connection bracket includes at least one bottom stowing groove; the
grip section is pivotally connected to the top connection bracket
and the bottom connection bracket; and the grip section can be
moved to a deployed position wherein the upper portion of the grip
section is in the upper slot and the lower portion of the grip
section is in the lower slot and to a stowed position wherein the
upper portion of the grip section is in one of the at least one top
stowing groove and the lower portion of the grip section is in one
of the at least one bottom stowing groove.
14. The hand bracket of claim 13, wherein: the at least one top
stowing groove comprises two top stowing grooves; and the at least
one bottom stowing groove comprises two bottom stowing grooves.
15. The hand bracket of claim 14, wherein: the two top stowing
grooves are parallel and along a first line; the two bottom stowing
grooves are parallel and along a second line; the first line is
parallel to the second line.
16. The hand bracket of claim 13, wherein: the upper slot is
perpendicular to the at least one top stowing groove; and the lower
slot is perpendicular to the at least one bottom stowing
groove.
17. The hand bracket of claim 12, wherein: the upper slot includes
a lowest upper point and the bottom slot includes a lowest bottom
point, each of the lowest upper point and the lowest bottom point
being substantially equidistant to both the first side and the
second side of the at least one of the top connection bracket and
the bottom connection bracket.
18. A hand bracket comprising: a grip section having an upper
portion and a lower portion; a top connection bracket at a first
end of the grip section, the top connection bracket including an
upper slot for selectively accepting the upper portion of the grip
section, the top connection bracket further including at least one
top stowing groove for selectively accepting the upper portion of
the grip section; and a bottom connection bracket at a second end
of the grip section, the bottom connection bracket including a
lower slot for selectively accepting the lower portion of the grip
section, the bottom connection bracket further including at least
one bottom stowing groove for selectively accepting the lower
portion of the grip section; the grip section being pivotally
connected to the top connection bracket and the bottom connection
bracket; wherein the grip section can be moved to a deployed
position wherein the upper portion of the grip section is in the
upper slot and the lower portion of the grip section is in the
lower slot and to a stowed position wherein the upper portion of
the grip section is in one of the at least one top stowing groove
and the lower portion of the grip section is in one of the at least
one bottom stowing groove; and wherein at least one of the top
connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket includes a
first side and a second side, with two screw holes located closer
to one of the first side or the second side; and wherein the upper
slot includes a lowest upper point and the bottom slot includes a
lowest bottom point, each of the lowest upper point and the lowest
bottom point being substantially equidistant to both the first side
and the second side of the at least one of the top connection
bracket and the bottom connection bracket.
19. The hand bracket of claim 18, wherein: the at least one top
stowing groove comprises two top stowing grooves; and the at least
one bottom stowing groove comprises two bottom stowing grooves.
20. The hand bracket of claim 19, wherein: the two top stowing
grooves are parallel and along a first line; the two bottom stowing
grooves are parallel and along a second line; the first line is
parallel to the second line.
21. The hand bracket of claim 18, wherein: the upper slot is
perpendicular to the at least one top stowing groove; and the lower
slot is perpendicular to the at least one bottom stowing
groove.
22. The hand bracket of claim 18, wherein: the at least one of the
top connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket comprises
a shell with the two screw holes, a rim and screw cylinders
extending from the screw holes to a position planar with the rim;
and the screw holes and the screw cylinders do not have a central
axis bisecting a first line extending perpendicular to a second
line extending between the top connection bracket and the bottom
connection bracket.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present invention pertains to hand brackets, and in particular,
to a hand bracket specially suited for use on a marine vessel,
motor home, travel trailer or other recreational vehicle.
Many recreational vehicles and vessels provide a series of steps
and an associated hand bracket along their outer surfaces to
accommodate easy access thereto.
However, due to the mobility of the vehicle or the like, the hand
bracket can be adjustably constructed to avoid interference with
the desired travel. One common approach is to detachably secure the
hand bracket to the vehicle so that it may be removed for travel.
An example of such a construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,664,227 issued May 12, 1987 to Hansen, and entitled PORTABLE
BALUSTRADE AND PLATFORM ASSEMBLY. However, while such arrangements
avoid travel interference, they involve labor-intensive and
time-consuming operations to attach and detach, and therefore often
become a nuisance to the user. Furthermore, suitable and
easily-accessible storage space must be provided for receiving the
hand bracket during travel. Also, the various fasteners utilized to
assemble and attach the hand bracket must be kept track of to
ensure that they will not become lost or erroneously used in the
subsequent erection and attachment of the hand bracket. This
problem is especially acute if the hand bracket is to be stored for
a long duration before reassembling.
In an effort to alleviate these difficulties, past artisans have
also developed collapsible hand brackets, such as disclosed in:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,116 issued Jan. 19, 1988 to Williams et al.,
and entitled STORABLE STAIRWAY AND PLATFORM APPARATUS FOR
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES; U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,211 issued Dec. 14, 1976
to Graves, and entitled RETRACTABLE PATIO ASSEMBLY FOR USE ON A
PICKUP TRUCK MOUNTED CAMPER OR THE LIKE; and U.S. Pat. No.
3,912,298 issued Oct. 14, 1975 to Humphrey, and entitled FOLDABLE
STEPS FOR MOBILE HOME. However, these hand brackets typically
involve a plurality of pivotally interconnected segments which
cooperate to effect collapse of the hand bracket against the
vehicle in a vertical plane or elements which fold against an
enlarged horizontal porch section before collapsing against the
side of the vehicle. These arrangements greatly increase the
complexity of the hand bracket and invariably increase the cost of
fabrication and the susceptibility to disrepair.
Accordingly, an apparatus is desired having the aforementioned
advantages and solving and/or making improvements on the
aforementioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a hand bracket
comprising a grip section, a top connection bracket at a first end
of the grip section and a bottom connection bracket at a second end
of the grip section. At least one of the top connection bracket and
the bottom connection bracket comprises a shell having two screw
holes and a rim, with screw cylinders extending from the screw
holes to a position planar with the rim. The at least one of the
top connection bracket and the bottom connection bracket includes a
first side and a second side, with the two screw holes located
closer to one of the first side or the second side.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hand
bracket comprising a grip section, a top connection bracket at a
first end of the grip section and a bottom connection bracket at a
second end of the grip section. The grip section has an upper
portion and a lower portion. The top connection bracket includes an
upper slot for selectively accepting the upper portion of the grip
section. The top connection bracket further includes at least one
top stowing groove for selectively accepting the upper portion of
the grip section. The bottom connection bracket includes a lower
slot for selectively accepting the lower portion of the grip
section. The bottom connection bracket further includes at least
one bottom stowing groove for selectively accepting the lower
portion of the grip section. The grip section is pivotally
connected to the top connection bracket and the bottom connection
bracket. The grip section can be moved to a deployed position
wherein the upper portion of the grip section is in the upper slot
and the lower portion of the grip section is in the lower slot and
to a stow position wherein the upper portion of the grip section is
in one of the at least one top stowing groove and the lower portion
of the grip section is in one of the at least one bottom stowing
groove. At least one of the top connection bracket and the bottom
connection bracket includes a first side and a second side, with
two screw holes located closer to one of the first side or the
second side. The upper slot includes a lowest upper point and the
bottom slot includes a lowest bottom point, with each of the lowest
upper point and the lowest bottom point being substantially
equidistant to both the first side and the second side of the at
least one of the top connection bracket and the bottom connection
bracket.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present
invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in
the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and
appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand bracket of the present
invention connected to a door of a recreational vehicle.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hand bracket of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the hand bracket of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the hand bracket of the present
invention.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the hand bracket of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the hand bracket of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is a first side view of the hand bracket of the present
invention.
FIG. 8 is a second side view of the hand bracket of the present
invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the hand bracket taken along
line IX-IX of FIG. 3.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the hand
bracket of the present invention in a deployed position.
FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a connection bracket of the
second embodiment of the hand bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the connection bracket of the
second embodiment of the hand bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a front view of the connection bracket of the second
embodiment of the hand bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a rear view of the connection bracket of the second
embodiment of the hand bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a top view of the connection bracket of the second
embodiment of the hand bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a side view of the connection bracket of the second
embodiment of the hand bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a front view of the second embodiment of the hand
bracket of the present invention in the deployed position.
FIG. 18 is a front view of the second embodiment of the hand
bracket of the present invention in a stowed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower,"
"right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal," and
derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in
FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may
assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly
specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the
specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached
drawings, and described in the following specification are simply
exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the
appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical
characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are
not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state
otherwise.
The reference number 10 (FIGS. 1-9) generally designates a hand
bracket embodying the present invention. In the illustrated
example, the hand bracket 10 comprises a grip section 12, a top
connection bracket 14 at a first end of the grip section 12 and a
bottom connection bracket 16 at a second end of the grip section
12. At least one of the top connection bracket 14 and the bottom
connection bracket 16 comprises a shell 18 having two screw holes
20 and a rim 22, with screw cylinders 24 extending from the screw
holes 20 to a position planar with the rim 22. The at least one of
the top connection bracket 14 and the bottom connection bracket 16
includes a first side 28 and a second side 30, with the two screw
holes 20 located closer to one of the first side 28 or the second
side 30.
In the illustrated example, the grip section 12, the top connection
bracket 14 and the bottom connection bracket 16 are integral. The
grip section 12 includes a bar (not shown) connected to the top
connection bracket 14 and the bottom connection bracket 16 and a
rubber tube 32 surrounding the bar. The rubber tube 32 includes a
bottom surface having finger grooves 34 for accepting fingers of a
user of the hand bracket 10. The rubber tube 32 also includes a top
surface having gripping protrusions 36 in a cross hatch pattern.
The finger grooves 34 and the gripping protrusions 36 allow a user
of the hand bracket 10 to easily grasp the grip section 12 of the
hand bracket 10.
The reference numeral 10a (FIGS. 10-18) generally designates
another embodiment of the present invention, having a second
embodiment for the hand bracket. Since hand bracket assembly 10a is
similar to the previously described hand bracket 10, similar parts
appearing in FIGS. 1-9 and FIGS. 10-18, respectively, are
represented by the same, corresponding reference number, except for
the suffix "a" in the numerals of the latter. In the second
embodiment of the hand bracket 10a, the grip section 12a, the top
connection bracket 14a and the bottom connection bracket 16a are
separate, but operatively connected. In the illustrated example,
the top connection bracket 14a and the bottom connection bracket
16a are identical, although it is contemplated that they could have
different configurations.
The illustrated grip section 12a of the second embodiment of the
hand bracket 10a is configured to move between a deployed position
(FIGS. 10 and 17) wherein the grip section 12a is accessible for
easy use and a stowed position (FIG. 18) wherein the grip section
12a is positioned towards a side of the top connection bracket 14a
and the bottom connection bracket 16a. The grip section 12a
includes an upper portion 40 and a lower portion 42. The top
connection bracket 14a is at a first end of the grip section 12a
and the bottom connection bracket 16a is at a second end of the
grip section 12a. The top connection bracket 14a includes an upper
slot 44 for selectively accepting the upper portion 40 of the grip
section 12a in the deployed position. The top connection bracket
14a further includes a pair of top stowing grooves 46 for
selectively accepting the upper portion 40 of the grip section 12a
in the stowed position. Likewise, the bottom connection bracket 16a
includes a lower slot 48 for selectively accepting the lower
portion 42 of the grip section 12a in the deployed position.
Furthermore, the bottom connection bracket 16a further includes a
pair of bottom stowing grooves 50 for selectively accepting the
lower portion 42 of the grip section 12a is in the stowed position.
The grip section 12a is pivotally connected to the top connection
bracket 14a and the bottom connection bracket 16a. The illustrated
grip section 12a is C-shaped and can be moved to a deployed
position (FIG. 17) wherein the upper portion 40 of the grip section
12a is in the upper slot 44 and the lower portion 42 of the grip
section 12a is in the lower slot 48 and to the stowed position
(FIG. 18) wherein the upper portion 40 of the grip section 12a is
in one of the top stowing grooves 46 and the lower portion 42 of
the grip section 12a is in one of the bottom stowing grooves 50. In
the illustrated example, the two top stowing grooves 46 are
parallel and along a first line, the two bottom stowing grooves 50
are parallel and along a second line, and the first line is
parallel to the second line. Furthermore, the upper slot 44 is
perpendicular to the top stowing grooves 46 and the lower slot 48
is perpendicular to the bottom stowing grooves 50.
In the illustrated example, the grip section 12a is pivotally
connected to the top connection bracket 14a and the bottom
connection bracket 16a for moving the grip section 12a between the
stowed position and the deployed position. The upper portion 40 and
the lower portion 42 of the grip section 12a are biased into either
the upper slot 44 and the lower slot 48, respectively, or one of
the top stowing grooves 46 and bottom stowing grooves 50,
respectively. The upper slot 44 and the lower slot 48 each include
a pair of knobs 70 on each side of the upper slot 44 and lower slot
48 defining a transition between the upper slot 44 and the top
stowing grooves 46 and the lower slot 48 and the bottom stowing
grooves 50. An upper pin 72 is inserted through the upper portion
40 of the grip section 12a and a lower pin 74 is inserted through
the lower portion 42 of the grip section 12a. The upper pin 72
extends through an opening 76 in the bottom of the upper slot 44
and the lower pin 74 extends through an opening in the bottom of
the lower slot 48. An upper spring biases the upper pin 72 and
thereby the upper portion 40 of the grip section 12a into either
the upper slot 44 or one of the top stowing grooves 46. Likewise, a
lower spring biases the lower pin 74 and the lower portion 42 of
the grip section 12a into either the lower slot 48 or one of the
bottom stowing grooves 50. The grip section 12a is moved from the
deployed position to the stowed position by lifting up the upper
portion 40 and the lower portion 42 of the grip section 12a to a
position above the knobs 70 and rotating the grip section 12a
clockwise or counterclockwise over the knobs 70 and releasing the
grip section 12a such that the upper portion 40 and the lower
portion 42 of the grip section 12a is pulled downward by the force
of the upper spring and the lower spring into aligned ones of the
top stowing grooves 46 and the bottom stowing grooves 50,
respectively. The grip section 12a is moved back to the deployed
position in the same manner. It is contemplated that only one
spring could be used. Moving a grip section 12a between a stowed
position and a deployed position is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,976,455 entitled HANDRAIL, the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
In the illustrated example, the top connection bracket 14a and the
bottom connection bracket 16a include a first side 60 and a second
side 62, with the two screw holes 20a located closer to the first
side 60 than the second side 62. It is contemplated, however, that
the two screw holes could be located closer to the second side 62
than the first side 60. Furthermore, the upper slot 44 includes a
lowest upper point 64 and the bottom slot 48 includes a lowest
bottom point 66, with each of the lowest upper point 64 and the
lowest bottom point 66 being substantially equidistant to both the
first side 60 and the second side 62 of the top connection bracket
14a and the bottom connection bracket 16a. Therefore, the grip
section 12a is centered on the hand bracket 10a.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be
made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the
concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be
understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the
following claims unless these claims by their language expressly
state otherwise.
* * * * *